Part Two of Self-Care: Getting Organized
Hi Everyone! Welcome back! We hope you enjoyed part one of our two-part self-care series. Our goal is to help you find ways to increase your self care and reduce stress. If you haven’t had a chance to check out Self-Care Part One, click here. If you’re reading the title of this blog post and thinking, “my life is so chaotic and I’m on maximum overload already! How can I possibly set aside time to become more organized?” We are here to help you with trying to find a healthy balance of your personal and professional responsibilities with a fun and easy tool. Let us share with you one way you can get organized, which will ultimately helping you reduce some of your stress!
Organization Matters
Are you someone who thrives off of the rush you get from crossing off a task on your to-do list? At Barnum Counseling, we use lists often (usually daily) to stay organized and love crossing items off our lists. However, if you have lists everywhere (on the fridge, your home office desk, your desk at work, your notes section in your phone and your bathroom mirror), then trying to figure out what to do next can become stressful. The good news is, you can create and have one space to store everything!
Getting Started
Today we are going to talk about the tool Bullet Journaling. Before you cringe at the word “journal,” give us a minute to explain. Let’s be clear, we’re NOT talking about: “Dear Diary, I am never, ever, ever leaving my bed again. If anyone needs me, I will be wallowing over here with the covers pulled over my head. Ugh!” While this type of written expression can be helpful for some, what we are actually referring to is creating a tool to help you simplify your life with just a quick glance at a notebook every day. No more lists in every room, or, “beyond my control,” head-spinning thoughts of everything you need to do. Having one place for all of your responsibilities or tasks that need to be completed will prove useful. This process can help you take control of your life back!
Learning How To Bullet Journal
Now, let’s get busy! Bullet Journaling is a daily, weekly, or monthly plan (or can be all three) for organization and task management. If you make it habit and follow through with this consistently, we believe you will want to share this tool with your friends, family, and colleagues, too. Another great part of Bullet Journaling is that once you get the hang of it, you can personalize it with colored pencils, markers, doodles, tabs, and stickers. It will become exciting, relaxing and, most importantly, an organizational tool you can’t live without.
What You Will Need
First and foremost, you will need some type of notebook or journal. We recommend a travel size notebook for easy transport from your home to work. You may also want a ruler and markers or colored pencils. Some other office supplies that might be helpful are colorful sticky tabs, other stickers, and tape. The point is, use items that you feel will help you to jazz it up and keep you motivated to use it regularly.
How to Set it Up
Setting up this type of journal really depends on personal preference. One of our business partners was nice enough to share what she used to help her set up her own journal. She explained: “I like to outline everything in pencil first. My journal includes the following: an index, a yearly calendar, weekly pages, and a Dutch door. Let me explain: a dutch door is a page folded in half vertically that separates the “days of the week” left and right pages (see photo).
More on Dutch Doors
My journal includes two dutch doors and is set up like this: on the top half of the first folded page (the first Dutch door), I have drawn out a monthly calendar. On the bottom half of the first folded page is a monthly inspirational quote. Flipping to the second side of the folded page, I have a weekly list of things to do. The second Dutch door, first page, includes some things I researched that week and also any noteworthy You Tube videos that I viewed. The second page of that Dutch door includes a book I am reading that week, as well as goals for the next week.”
Days of the Week Pages
She further explains: I divide the two “days of the week” pages into six parts (see photo). You will see the Saturday and Sunday evenly split on the right hand side of the second page after the dutch door. Each day then includes things from the to-do list. I may add other things too, such as an event or special occasion, depending on the day. Then, I trace over the pencil with markers and color-code certain areas. Finally, I use sticky tabs, washi tape and other final touches, depending on my mood. Sometimes I just like to doodle.”
Start Your Bullet Journal Today
This process is magic! Organization for your life is now in one place which helps you to take care of you first! As you become an experienced journalist, you will find out how productive you can be with how much you are capable of accomplishing weekly. In turn, this will alleviate some of the stress you may be experiencing in trying to find balance in your life.
Thank you for taking the time to stop by and see us this week. If you missed Part 1, you will definitely want to go back and check it out!
*Credit given to evie and sarah for the journal photo: https://www.evieandsarah.com/